British-Nigerian actor David Oyelowo, star of Ava DuVernay’s “Selma,” has joined up with The GEANCO Foundation to start the first David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship for Girls in Nigeria, The Voice has reported.
The scholarship will provide education to girls who have been disadvantaged or terrorized by gender inequality. As The Voice detailed, “Many Nigerian girls are being raped, kidnapped and — if they make it back home — shunned by their families.”
“We cannot stand idly by while thousands of innocent girls remain under serious threat,” Oyelowo said. “With our help, these bright and resilient girls can blossom into Nigeria’s most inspiring leaders in government, education, business, entertainment, and so much more. The way to combat oppression and injustice is to be intentional in calling it out and then seeking to affect sustainable and long-term change. That is what these Leadership scholarships are all about. We seek to nurture a generation of strong female trailblazers whose positive impact will be felt across Nigeria and around the world.”
Oprah Winfrey will offer financial support for the scholarship, as will entertainment production company Participant Media, among others. Three scholarships will be available for the 2016–2017 school year at the Anglican Girls Grammar School in Abuja, Nigeria. The all-girls boarding school emphasizes science and math for its students. Other schools will be chosen for future scholarships.
